[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6633124,"mediaKeyId","2665979-42f3ece1e4a12c7938518ff779c48d97","parentId",2665979,"title","Students, parents urge board to retain ISL exemptions; trustees cite oversight and curriculum concerns","audioSeconds",596,"startMs",4659000,"endMs",5255000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665979-42f3ece1e4a12c7938518ff779c48d97&start=4659&end=5255","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665979-42f3ece1e4a12c7938518ff779c48d97/thumbnail_4659000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6633124/New-Jersey/Students-parents-urge-board-to-retain-ISL-exemptions-trustees-cite-oversight-and-curriculum-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633124-2a825f305faf1c68a6f43387bbd0701f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770901280&Signature=bB21-vTP4lB3XtUvsZMrH3ehovy2fXestIrk91DXXg0dg6PB3x0K05ljUvkIi5bUQzqwQhoHDyJgC0sxtMoWxOVBkHWyhdVoIjueUO1PwIQQY8AP-4f3Jvb55F1150oedLPpLxkZ9EE~~nIgM69A2NlnQay0gvkYMrK9z5IbOjXbUd8QtazadRiOUnxgahrokyy1wnpd-uCV1uu5sBhZ4ttPV0X9ljMYgJ7SpbTNg~O8~I8n~QSdqOT~mLDtP1qgQh5QL0Nh0iCtvHSa7N2vy4uViS~571PudkHq-wVP5wzskGpHBN-yGJQ7gLmJ2U-eI5YcA85~1jYcczZqwhEzPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","School District of the Chathams","date","2025-03-18T02:13:51.55Z","article","Several students and parents used the meeting’s public comment period to urge the board to retain the ISL program (the district’s independent-study/externship gym exemption) or to allow an adjusted model that would recognize outside providers.

Emily Smith, a Chatham High freshman, described dancing about 14 hours per week at an outside studio and urged the board to consider a model similar to the student internship program, where studios or other organizations could apply to be part of ISL and accept responsibility for scheduling and liability. Meredith Eckert Tumanaro described her son’s experience as a competitive rower who relied on ISL to meet academic and athletic commitments and said losing the program had real consequences for students balancing rigorous academics and high‑time extracurriculars.

Board members responded during the personnel section and after public comment that they support students’ extracurricular commitments but face statutory and administrative constraints. Miss Weber explained that state mandates require the district to certify that students meet curriculum requirements; allowing outside programs to substitute for district‑delivered physical education raises issues the district cannot easily audit. Trustees also cited concerns about background checks, staffing turnover at outside providers, and the district’s inability to oversee personnel at private organizations; they said those factors expose the district to potential liability and could jeopardize students’ credits if audited.

The board did not reverse its earlier decision about ISL during the meeting. Trustees encouraged continued dialogue and noted the district is open to exploring options but must satisfy state curriculum and auditing requirements before recognizing outside providers or returning to a previous exemption model.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Chatham BOE 03/17/25","oneSentenceSummary","Students and parents urged the School District of the Chathams Board of Education to preserve the ISL gym exemption for high‑time extracurricular activities, saying the program enables participation in intensive outside athletics and arts.","taxTitle","School District of the Chathams, School Districts, New Jersey","taxId",65205,"location","New Jersey","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6633139,"Chatham Board advances preliminary 2025–26 budget and moves toward free full-day kindergarten",3686,1987000,5673000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665979-42f3ece1e4a12c7938518ff779c48d97&start=1987&end=5673","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665979-42f3ece1e4a12c7938518ff779c48d97/thumbnail_1987000.jpg","/articles/6633139/New-Jersey/Chatham-Board-advances-preliminary-202526-budget-and-moves-toward-free-full-day-kindergarten","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633139-efd3e9da84bb9cb7e200ddceb195385b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770901280&Signature=XFFK5OWduHwRvTCrDPtLmTBZxLM4qoYu7pGJaCS~i7YCNj5Q-75XG55nif-ufD7SJfiSPJORHqw3a8pUBwjWAnLx9rfAkEIlL3Glg2kOfaTRJ~PigyD1rM9kOy56FmqqON~~xxCVdBXqFDMvfUTvzhFpYBWgBNzgeNgxyAYaEQ1wtOmqjDwm1J06rM228QH3v61yplmuUs~p3Q9KMmoVBHRuETfp-b2VOzLVyfwdLhSitU85QHRROaBMOcBpVEpNfkb5s9jtPtdvl-kq6u3KwHeS2llSVGENV1IxcRq16tZrn7o5Eo4qMLRkoZuDTYwC5tMNbSC5jpc3oMGnAocgvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The School District of the Chathams Board of Education on March 17 approved a preliminary 2025–26 budget and addendum, voting 9-0 to move the plan forward that would fund free full-day kindergarten for all district kindergartners and increase the tax levy by 4.76%.

Superintendent Dr. Lasusa and the finance committee presented the budget, saying the district’s revenues have risen in part because of modest state aid increases tied to a law referred to in the presentation as \"S2,\" and because the state granted an enrollment adjustment of $232,000 that allows the district to exceed the normal 2% tax levy cap.

Board members said rising costs, notably a 13.1% increase in health benefits premiums and negotiated salary increases in bargaining agreements, pushed the committee to recommend the levy increase. The presentation also noted a carry-forward “banked cap” of about $930,000 from the prior year that the board did not use and is available going forward.

Most of the proposal includes no new staff hires despite rising elementary enrollment. The district said it will fund the building reconfiguration needed to offer universal full-day kindergarten largely from capital reserve rather than new staffing. For the current year the district had offered full-day kindergarten on a tuition basis at $5,000 per student and budgeted roughly $1,000,000 in tuition revenue; the board’s proposal would remove that tuition charge for the coming year.

Officials laid out homeowner impacts using local assessed values: the presentation estimated an annual tax increase of roughly $433 for the average borough home (assessed about $995,000) and $461 for the average township home (assessed about $863,000). The district reported a total tax levy last year of just under $75,000,000 and current enrollment just under 3,600 students.

Finance and facilities staff also reviewed capital needs and how the district funds them. The presentation said the district routinely deposits excess year‑end funds into capital reserve (staff cited deposits of $2 million to $4 million in recent years) to pay for roof and HVAC projects. The administration expects to receive about 40% reimbursement from the state’s SDA program for two roof projects and HVAC replacements scheduled this summer; the district typically outlays funds and is reimbursed after state approval.

Board and staff said uncertainties remain: federal IDEA funding (about $1 million annually for special education) could change, and state funding posture could shift after the current governor’s term. The board also noted new state proposals around universal early childhood programs that create both potential revenue and programmatic pathways — officials said districts that offer free full-day kindergarten may be better positioned to receive future preschool aid.

Votes at the meeting covered the preliminary budget and related items. The board voted 9-0 to approve agenda items B1–B19 and the addendum (B20), which included the preliminary 2025–26 budget presentation and resolutions to fund some capital work from capital reserve.

The board’s finance committee said it considers the proposed levy increase responsible given local cost pressures and the district’s goal of offering universal full‑day kindergarten without tuition.

Other details from the presentation: the district reported that transportation CPI used by vendors is 3.57; that elementary cohorts are beginning to increase after several years of decline; that the district is proposing modest increases to activity and subscription bus fees; and that the administration did not propose additional full‑time staff for 2025–26.","The School District of the Chathams Board of Education on March 17 approved a preliminary 2025–26 budget and addendum, voting 9-0 to move a proposal that would fund free full‑day kindergarten and would raise the tax levy by 4.76%.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6633130,"Chatham students showcase middle- and high-school robotics; teams report state and national competition success",1649,327000,1976000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665979-42f3ece1e4a12c7938518ff779c48d97&start=327&end=1976","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665979-42f3ece1e4a12c7938518ff779c48d97/thumbnail_327000.jpg","/articles/6633130/New-Jersey/Chatham-students-showcase-middle-and-high-school-robotics-teams-report-state-and-national-competition-success","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633130-227540b43a9f05ad0cb8abe2c31b9753/orig.mp4?Expires=1770901280&Signature=nBEjyGknjfZVB3owD2XU7BJvvBtYJMBZWY0~a7TQwmQytDndfwoYLqk95l1YpUL6MMkx9HoROtqfkEdb3tXq5CiPXojXLz4lO8xpvLQiO9VQmBA9zixYHuaCITsS8cu7oSOEKd7P2i6O3S4Cz7er1-JdAFZRg-t~mIj6DrCGg03qI14GOiebECYXPI1p9DUsxM~ptIZaX1W-Nhib0Pxr5Z5PuRc4XEMDeAEYQwyfVKAT19H4mGCBd3apij4FeknSWNzDCT95nPwEPoBz6YpWmfq5r6Ghql9h7MVu4VHHSG60DOWC795l3YRj1AX4OHIEMIDPjVWYvTWkN1pRU2zSrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Students from Chatham Middle School and Chatham High School demonstrated robots and described their season-long work during the board meeting.

At the middle-school presentation, coaches Jessica Leidis and James Hitchings described the Taco Cats (team number 34043), a FIRST LEGO League (FLL) team that meets twice weekly and spends extra time during study halls and on weekends. Coaches and students listed awards across several seasons, including Robot Design, Engineering Excellence, and Motivate honors, and said the team advanced to FLL championships in recent years, finishing 11th and 12th out of roughly 80 teams. The Taco Cats said they had raised $2,160 this year for the Passaic River Coalition.

Students described their project work in this season’s theme on ocean exploration and how they built Chromebox, an autonomous robot with motorcycle wheels, a color sensor and a universal attachment system. Several students described coding techniques such as gyro-based heading control, use of sensors and experimenting with PID control and exponential acceleration to improve movement precision.

Julie Ryan, the high-school design and technology teacher who leads the high‑school program, said the advanced teams compete in FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC). Ryan said Chatham’s high-school teams have advanced to state championships eight times in the past 10 years and to world championships three times, including a top‑10 world finish in the innovation challenge during 2021. The high‑school programs include classroom and after‑school work and students said they typically spend many hours weekly on build, code and fundraising; one team estimated members average 15–20 hours a week during season.

Students demonstrated robot movement on stage and described design iterations, 3‑D printed parts, custom attachments and fundraising and sponsorship efforts. A board member and audience members asked about sponsorships and off‑season work; students described continuing skills work and planning for the next season.

The board thanked the students and coaches and invited them to depart before the budget presentation.","Middle-school Taco Cats and Chatham High robotics teams presented robots, research and programming work at the board meeting. Middle school FLL team reported fundraising for local river coalition and past championship finishes; high school FTC teams described multi-year success including state championships and world championship appearances.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6633134,"Chatham board accepts retirements and welcomes Dr. Audra Berger as new supervisor",262,5333000,5595000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665979-42f3ece1e4a12c7938518ff779c48d97&start=5333&end=5595","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665979-42f3ece1e4a12c7938518ff779c48d97/thumbnail_5333000.jpg","/articles/6633134/New-Jersey/Chatham-board-accepts-retirements-and-welcomes-Dr-Audra-Berger-as-new-supervisor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633134-9071fa8c11b66a80f942241018fea53a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770901280&Signature=kyMZ295xh2zqwiCwAO~bUlK91ALtqb4g7u2YsTu53FyAx6uzpGUOenj~4Tb6YpdHNAjgCQr2N6x5dzieiQkq40ztkPlcbWSwEeP7c6vsPjVx1TwvF2qxbVpJsnoOOY-jd0oovKHYfWRCCWpHgvagvwjZNjkftjvW5MVOEMbDF~44xKxI07laKL~jpYxCNNK8lWZmRYlNNghIsTl5qHShYhdWaaQjqYY5UTqqVuSWQhMrs8BKdsUO9-sVbVSSc4P2WytX9PhF1JXpnfEANozvx-Dnaw3uScZ9BHffVDcXggzU6nwRJ2XUNxA6Iv3vTmQKT9h2na8HBvgSTjZH6VY2gQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The School District of the Chathams Board of Education voted 9-0 on March 17 to approve agenda items A1–A23, a slate that included multiple retirements and the hire of Dr. Audra Berger as supervisor of literacy and technology education.

Board members and community speakers singled out several long-serving staff for praise, including Karen Leister, Kim Lanza, Phyllis LaPenta, Debbie Connan, Mary Anne Costa and Linda Gallart. Trustees described those staff members as longtime contributors to student services and school operations.

At the meeting the board formally welcomed Dr. Audra Berger, who addressed the board and attendees and said she was “incredibly excited to join the School District of the Chathams.” Trustees had noted Berger had been sought by district leaders for several years and said they expect her to begin work in the new supervisory role soon.

The motion to approve the personnel slate was moved by Miss Weber and seconded from the floor; the roll call vote on A1–A23 was unanimous, 9-0. The agenda packet and addendum included a correction to item A22; the board approved that correction as part of the package.

Several retirees were acknowledged publicly during the personnel discussion and in public remarks: the meeting recorded gratitude from trustees and community members for the retirees’ years of service. The board did not tie specific replacement hires to all the retirements during the meeting; personnel replacements and transitions will be managed through the district’s personnel processes.

The board’s personnel committee said the district is remaining largely staffing-neutral in the 2025–26 budget process and is updating hiring procedures to improve consistency and documentation.","The board approved a slate of personnel actions including several retirements and the appointment of Dr. Audra Berger as supervisor of literacy and technology education by a 9-0 vote. The board and community members praised longtime staffers who are retiring.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Students, parents urge board to retain ISL exemptions; trustees cite oversight and curriculum concerns

Chatham Board advances preliminary 2025–26 budget and moves toward free full-day kindergarten

Chatham students showcase middle- and high-school robotics; teams report state and national competition success

Chatham board accepts retirements and welcomes Dr. Audra Berger as new supervisor